By Maria Benardis
New Year’s Resolutions are quickly forgotten and sometimes set too high. Below are 10 healthy habits that you can incorporate into your life for long lasting health. You can find out more in my book/eBook “Cooking & Eating Wisdom for Better Health” and my Manifestation Planner for 2017.
1. Eat Mostly high vibrational food
High vibrational foods are highly nutritious energetic foods that our bodies require for sustenance and healing. These fresh organic fruit and vegetables food (especially greens and living grains such as sprouts), natural supplements and vitamins e.g. spirulina, omega 3, herbal teas, herbs and spices, pure or filtered water (to remove fluoride etc.), good oils e.g. olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil, nuts and seeds, eating raw food, dehydrated and lightly steamed food e.g. anything in its uncooked, minimally processed, raw, sprouted and organic state , fermented foods and whole grains such as couscous, kamut, buckwheat, brown rice, amaranth, spelt and barley.
Keep to a minimum or eliminate processed foods, genetically modified (GMO) food, and conventional food that has been treated with chemicals and pesticides, white rice and flours, sugars, sweeteners (artificial etc.), coffee, sodas, alcohol, meat, fish and poultry, unhealthy oils e.g. canola, cottonseed, margarine, lard and vegetable oils and cooked foods, deep fried foods and microwaving food to name a few. Focus on counting the chemicals in your food not the calories.
- Think high vibrational thoughts and do high vibrational activities
Incorporate any activity or practice into your day that feels good and that brings you joy or happiness. This includes lunch with a friend, relax time, laughter, charitable acts of kindness, painting, affirmation practice, spiritual connection, visualization practice, singing, going to the movies/show, grounding with bare feet on the earth, walks in nature, connect with someone you love and who loves you, take a bath, short breaks and mini-holidays or adventures etc. “Happiness depends upon ourselves”. Aristotle
Practice holistic and alternative therapies as were practiced in ancient Greece e.g. naturopathy, massage, salt therapy, chakra therapy, sun therapy, dream therapy, light therapy, color therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy etc. Focus on releasing entrapped emotions, letting go of toxic people, toxic habits and toxic environments.
- Eat mindfully with peace and calm
Eating is a spiritual experience – a way to connect to your energy and the energy of others to nurture the body and soul. Mealtimes are a time to form a relationship with your food and to savour the flavors. It is vital that you take the time to chew and eat your food slowly. By eating slowly, you are cultivating an awareness of your food and the ingredients. Eating and chewing slowly also relaxes the body and your nervous system and enables you to produce more saliva, which helps the digestive process. Eating fast and on a deadline, creates stress and inhibits the proper digestion of food
- Drink more water
Don’t forget to hydrate your body with pure water and herbal teas. Water does not have to be boring add some fruit or slices of lemon or orange depending what’s in season to water for a refreshingly delicious drink.
- Cook more and eat out less
When you are eating at home you are aware of what ingredients you are using. Most eating establishments use unhealthy ingredients with GMO’s, chemicals and pesticides. When eating out opt for restaurants that value their customers by using organically grown ingredients and methods that respect the environment. Ensure they use good oils, such as extra virgin olive oil, because they care about your health and, in turn, are showing respect for people’s wellbeing.
- Incorporate meditation and prayer
Incorporate meditation and prayer for calmness of mind, body and spirit. “Learn to be silent, Let your quiet mind, Listen and absorb”. – Pythagoras
Both meditation and prayer are great for reducing your stress levels. They are helpful to get you away from the worries of life to a more peaceful state of mind. As little as 10 minutes of meditation a day can make a huge difference by bringing peace and relaxation to your body and mind. When you are unsure as to how to cope with a situation say a prayer and send the concern to the universe (“God”) for a solution.
- Moderate exercise
According to Hippocrates, “If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.” Incorporate at least half an hour exercise each day for good health and vitality. Exercise is also a great way to reduce stress and to lower blood pressure.
- Focus on been present and breath
“The whole life of a man is but a point in time; let us enjoy it.” Plutarch. We all encounter obstacles and challenges in our life that stress us out. Embrace them, learn from them, accept them and move on. Find peace with your challenges and be present and open to new opportunities and ideas. Interpret a NO as a new opportunity to knock on another door or to move you in a new direction. The biggest obstacle in our lives is usually ourselves. Try not to focus too much into the future it hasn’t arrived yet.
9.Generous sleep and rest
Many people do not include relaxation time in their schedules. Conscious relaxation is important for your body and mind and can help you deal with the negatives of stress. A good night’s sleep makes you able to tackle the day’s stress more easily. When you are tired, you are less patient and more easily agitated which can increase stress. Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Practicing good sleep hygiene along with stress-lowering tactics can help improve your quality of sleep.
- Practice Gratitude
One of the most powerful energies you can ever experience is gratitude. Feeling grateful for your life, home, friends, for reading this book and for the great meal you just ate will enable you to inherit an energy that can create miracles. Belief and gratitude changes lives for the better in unexplainable ways. Feeling gratitude releases love and a wonderful energy that miracles can occur in our lives if we believe in ourselves. Gratitude keeps us focused on the many blessings in our life and awakens us to a state of agape (Greek for unconditional love”). With gratitude comes the release of fears and forgiveness of oneself and others.
